Multiposition rotary switch



1946. A. P. SULLIVAN MULTIPOSITION ROTARY SWITCH Filed se t. 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 71 a mlWf/M a J I w B H N m H Nov. 19, 1946. v A. P. SULL IVAN 2,411,478

MULTIPOSITION ROTARY SWITCH Filed Sept. 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 171a P. Sui/1 1/07? :Patenteri Nov.- 19. 1946.

F'FICE MIIJT IPOSITION RDTI LRY'SWITCH Alan P. Sullivan, Elizabeth, N. 1.. asslgnor to Cities Service 011 Company, New vYork, N. Y.,

a corporation oi Pennsylvania.

Application Se tember 15,1944, Serial No. 554,224

This invention relates to electrical circuit switching means, and more particularly to improvements in multi-position rotary switches.

. 11 Clalmm (Cl. 200-6).

1-1 oi Fi'g'. 6, with certain parts broken my better to show underlying ones;

The principal object 01' the invention is to provide a rotary switch which may have two circuit closing positions, or many, and in which the contacts may be arranged in single pole or multi-pole disposition, depending only upon the number of substantially identical setsxoi parts which are disposed in each deck, and the number of declrs 01' parts which are pancaked together in the final assembly. i

It is a further object of the invent-ion to provide amulti-position rotary switch having its 1 circuit-making and breaking contacts enclosed within a housingwhich is formed by the contact-supporting and separating insulators, and.

which serves to exclude dust and dirt, and to minimize the eifect of rapidly changingatmospheric conditions upon the contacts.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a switch of this kind in which the flxedcorrtacts extend through the housing in;such fashion that their outer ends are readily accessible.

for permanent interconnection among themselves or to the conductors of an electrical circuit of which they areto form parts. It is a further object of the invention to provide a deck switch which may be made in smallersizes than any of the conventional devices' of this kind having a comparable number of contact points that arenow available, and the parts of which may be inexpensively manufactured and cheaply assembled in small manufacturing lots. The foregoing and other objects of theinvention, as well as its various features, will be better understood from a consideration of thefol lowing description. in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a series of parts which may be assembled togetherto provide a single deck switch;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a switch assembled from Q the parts of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on' the line 3-3 01. Fig. 2;. i 1

Fig. i is a sectional view taken on the line 44 oiFig.3;

-Fig. 5 is a perspective view, on a much enlarged scale, or a pair 01' the fixed contacts of Y the switch of Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a series of parts which'may be assembled to provide a two-deck switch} 1 Fig. 9 is a side-view, largely in section, of a switch assembled from the parts of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 'l0- -l0 of Fig.- 9.

The devicewhich is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is what is generally known in the art as a singledeck switch having three contact positions. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that the switch comprises three pairs or fixed contacts i8 and i9 which are disposed radially on the ends of a, cylindrical supporting member 20-, with the inner ends of each pair aligned in overlapping spaced relation, (Figs. 3' and 4) and with the outer ends of the contacts projecting beyond the outside surface of the supporting block so as to be readily'accessible for connection to an electrical circuit. In the finished switch these contacts are preferably clamped in fixed position by a pair of similar insulating spacers 2i and 22, the end plates 23 and 24, and suitable bolts or rivets 25. The movable contact of the device consists of a silver pin which is mounted in an insulating drum 2'! in such a position that it may be caused to bridge any one of the pairs of fixed contacts I8, L9, to close an electrical circuit or which they are parts, by the rotation of a drum supporting shaft 28 in its bearings in the end plates.

It is generally preferable in a device of this kindto provide detent means which serve to.

hold the movable contact in bridging relation with any selected pair of fixed contacts. This function is served in the illustrated switch by a spring arm 29 which :is secured to the rear end of drum 2] and shaft .28 by a bolt 30, and which has a rib 3i in its forward end, overlying and pressed against. the outer edge of the rear end plate 24, so thatit may lie in any one of the three notches 32 which are formed in the end plate in positions corresponding to those of the three pairs of fixed contacts.

This switch is adapted to be mounted on a panel in unconventional fashion. Thus its front end plate 23 is provided with a stud 34 of such length that it may pass through an opening in the Fig. 6 is a side-view, partly in section, oi a modified form of theswitch of Figs. 1 to 5;

' Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line conventional locking nut '35 as shown in Fig. 2.

The fixed contact supporting member 20 (Fig. 1) preferablytakes the form of a short cylinder of insulating material having -four shallow radial slots 36 in each of its end faces, with the preferably threaded to receive the threaded ends slots aligned to receive the fixed contacts iii-and of bolts 25 which of course serve to hold the parts IS. The depth of the slots at the outeredge in assembled relation.

ness of the fixed contacts, and preferably they be held together rather loosely, with bolts 25 not slope inwardly at a slight angle (Fig. 4) This turned down tight, in order to allow for insertion ring may be made of any insulating material of the fixed contacts I8, l9 in the slots 36 of the which lends itself to easy working, and which fixed contact-support 20. In carrying out this has sufilciently good electric insulating qualities operation the contacts are inserted in the slots lustrated device it comprises nothing more than a are pushed in until their inner ends abut body short section of phenolic resin tubing having 42 of the drum 21. When this has been done the three holes 37 drilled therein to receive the bolts contacts are backed oif slightly, to just the extent 25, and having the contact receiving slots 36 which is necessary to allow for a free turn of the milled in its end faces. l5v drum. The assembly of the several parts being The fixed contacts are made of phosphor bronze now complete, the bolts 25 may be turned down or other suitable spring metal which preferably tight to clamp the contacts in the positions thus has one side silver-coated for better electrical established. conduction. Fixed contact l8 comprises a tab of The fixed contact support and the two inthe spring material having its outer end turned 20' sulating spacers 2|, 22 are so proportioned as to back upon itself to form a: hook 38 which serves thickness that upon assembly in the foregoing to receive the end of an electrical conductor in fashion the fixed contacts l8, l9 necessarily overthe finished device, and opposite edges turned lie the opposite sides of flange of drum 21, back slightly at its inner end, as indicated at 39 and are so disposed that movable contact pin 26 (Fig. 5), so that the silvered side of the contact is adapted to wipe between them and spring them is of slightly dished cross section. Between these apart slightly to make good electrical contact end portions, however, the contactissubstantially with them. In this connection, it will be evifiat so that it may lie snugly in one of the slots dent that the turned back edges 39, M of the 3'5. of supporting member 20. fixed contacts are directed away from each other The second fixed contact I9 is preferably some- 30 in the finished unit (Figs. 4 and 5) so that these what longer than the first one, and has a hole edges are spaced slightly farther apart than their attachment of an electrical conductor. The inner movable contact pin 26 will sweep between the end of this contact is also turned up slightly along irmer ends of fixed contacts in the operation of its edges as indicated at M, in a direction away the switch and will not catch against their edges. from the silvered side, precisely as was the end It will also be noted (Figs. 2 and fl) that the The rotating drum 2? serves primarily'to supsupporting ring 20 so that each of them forms a port the movable contact in properly spaced relasmall pocket into which the end of an electrical tion to the fixed contacts i8, i9, and to insulate conductor may readily be inserted and soldered it from the shaft and other parts. It may acin place. The outer ends of the other fixed concoljdingly be made of y Suitable ulating matacts I9, which were purposely made somewhat terial such as phenolic resin. As here shown, the longer than contacts l8, extend well beyond the drum has a body portion 42 (Fig. 4) with an upouter surface of supporting ring 2!) so that they standing peripheral flange d3 which is of such 45 are readily accessible for the soldering on of electhickness as to be capable of passing between the trical conductors without interference with fixed inner ends of the spaced pairs of fixed contacts contacts l8. l8, I9. The movable contact pin 26 is preferably It is a feature of this switch (Fig. 4) that the made of pure silver, and extends crosswise of this inner ends of the fixed contacts 83, i9, and of flange, being secured in position either by friccourse the entire movable contact 26, lie wholly tion alone or more permanently by having its within a closed housing which is formed by the opposite ends slightly upset. A second peripheral support 20, spacers 2 i, 22, and the two end plates I flange 44 is formed on the body of the drum in 23 and 24. While the housing is not gas proof, such position that it may abut against the rear the openings around the shaft are so small that end plate 24 in the finished device. Other conrapid changes in atmospheric conditions are not structional details of this drum and of various quickly transmitted to the interior of the switch, other parts of the switch assembly will be readand little dust can enter through them. The

ily apparent from Figs. 1 to 5, and will be conswitch is therefore substantially dust-proof, and sidered in somewhat greater detail hereinafter. little or no trouble is occasioned by the entry of In assembling the switch, the drum 21 is fitted e dirt and other matter to foul the contact points. on shaft 28 with its. rear .end fiush with the rear It will readily be evident that the structure end of the shaft. The rear end plate 24 is then is not limited to a three-position switch of the applied over the end of the drum until its inner kind heretofore described. If fewer contacts are face abuts against flange 44, and these several wanted, then all that is needed is a fixed contact 45, which also serves to confine the inner end of fewer contact receiving slots 36. On the other the detent spring 30, and by bolt 29. Y hand, where more than three circuit closing posi In the next stage of the assembly, front end tions are required, it is only necessary to use a plate 23, insulating spacer 2i, fixed contact supsupporting ring having an appropriately larger port 20, and insulating spacer 22, are sandwiched number of radial slots and a corresponding numtogether in that order as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, her of pairs of fixed contacts, in assembling the and are fitted over drum 2'! and shaft. 28 with switch.- Such a switch is illustrated in Figs. 6 the holes 46, 41, 31, and QB in these several eleand 7, where it will be seen that the ring 20a ments aligned with each other and with the holes has slots for receiving nine pairs of fixed con- 49 in the rear end plate 23. The latter holes are tacts, and that the rear plate 24a is provided of the support is about equal to the thick- At this stage of the assembly the parts should and adequate mechanical strength. In the il- 10 with their silvered sides facing each other, and

40 formed in its flat outer end to facilitate the center sections. This arrangement assures that of the first contact. hooked ends 38 of fixed contacts i8 face. toward parts are held in assembled relation by a collar 65 supporting member 20 having correspondingly with nine detent notches 32a. each of which is aligned with one of the pairs of fixed contacts, "a, Isa. The spacer rings Ha, Ha, movable contact 26a, drum 21a, and other parts of this switch are, however, identical with the like parts of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and the assembly of these parts may be carried out in the general manner heretofore described.

6 In all of the foregoing switches it will be noted that an insulating spacer 2 l 22 has been employed between each end plate 25, 28 and the adjacent The switches which have been described above I each include but a single fixed contact support, and are what are known as "single deck assemblies. In many cases more than one deck of fixed contacts is required in order to provide for complicated circuit connections. The switch of the present invention lends itself readily to multidecking, of which one example is shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive. In this unit two fixed contact members MD are employed, each having three sets of contact receiving slots 3612, with the rings insulated one from another by a spacer 21b. This spacer, and that between the first fixed contact support and front end plate 23!) may be identical with spacer 2| of Fig. l; and spacer 22b, which separates the second fixed contact support from the rear end plate 24?) may be identical with spacer 22 of Fig. 1.-

Drum 21b is generally similar to that of Figs. 1 to 4, except insofar as it is provided with an additional movable contact 26b, and in that the two movable contact pins are mounted in lugs 50 which extend only part of the way around body 42b, and that a similar lug 5| has been sub stituted for the abutment flange ll of Fig. 1. It will be perfectly evident, however, that peripheral flanges, such as 43 and 44 (Fig. 1), maybe employed instead of the lugs where that is desired; and contrariwise, that lugs comparable to SI and SI may be-employed in the switch of Figs. 1 to 5, in lieu of the continuous flanges l3 and II there shown.

In the assembled device (Fig. 9) entire reliance is not placed upon lug 5| to hold the shaft against axial movement. Part of this function is performed by a pin 52, which is secured to shaft 28b and abuts against the forward end of the stud portion b of front plate 23b, This pin serves the further function of limiting rotation of the.

shaft by contact with abutments 53 which is formed by cutting away part of the end of stud b as is shown in Figs. B and 9. If desired, of course, the abutment may be omitted, and pin fill extended so that it projects completely through supporting shaft, in which case the switch may be shifted between. any two sets of contacts by the rotationof the shaft in either direction. Obviously, too, lug 5| may be replaced by a flange comparable to N of Fig. 1 in which case pin 53 may be omitted.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the switch may be assembled from common parts having a single deck or two decks as shown,

or, that one or more additional decks may be included, and that the drum may be provided with additional movable contact pins 26 to match the added decks. Again, it will be evident that the number of pairs of fixed contacts which are included in any deck may be more or fewer than those shown; and that both the fixed and movable contacts may be inter-connected in accordance with conventional switching practice to provide almost any combination with may be required for complete circuit control. Further, it will be appreciated that the detent spring 30 may be omitted entirely, or that some other form of detent may be employed.

fixed contact supporting member 23. Where the switch is to be made up in small manufacturing lots this practice has some advantage in that the end plates may be simple screw machine parts and the spacers may be cut from standard forms of insulated tubing. If desired, however, these spacers may be formed integrally with the end plates, which can be synthetic resin castings or die cast metal parts. In the former case, of course, the end plates constitute their own insulation while in the latter, the metal end plates may be lnsulated'from the fixed contacts by any conventional means.

Since certain changes may be made in the illustrated and preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that the foregoing shall be construed in a descriptive, rather than a limited sense.

I claim:

1. A multi-position switch comprising a cylindrical supporting member of insulating material '1 having radially directed slots formed in its end faces with each slot in one face lying opposite a slot in the other face; a plurality of fixed contacts, each disposed in one of said slots, said contacts being arranged in opposingpairs with their inner ends projeoting from the inner cylindrical wall of said supporting member and lying in overlapping spaced relation, and with their outer ends adapted for connection to an electrical circuit; a rotatable shaft extending centrally through said supporting member; Journal means for said shaft; a movable contact carried by said of said member,

'ering shaft, said movable contact being so disposed that it may be caused by rotation of said shaft to bridge any one of said pairs of fixed contacts; in assem-" and means for holding said contacts bled relation.

2. A multi-position rotary switch comprising a fixed contact supporting member of generally cylindrical proportions, said member having a plurality of radially directed slots formed in substantially aligned relation in its opposite end surfaces a plurality of fixed contact elements, each disposed in one of said slots and projecting into the bore of said member, the inner ends of the fixed contact elements at one end of said member lying in overlapping spaced relation to the corresponding portions of the contact elements located at the other end thereof; a pair of end plates covthe ends of said member and being adapted to clamp said contacts in fixed relation; means for securing said end plates and supporting member together; a shaft extending through the bore and being Journaled in said end plates; and a movable contact element carried by said shaft, said movable contact being so disposed that it may be caused by rotation of said shaft to bridge any opposing pair of fixed contacts to close an electrical circuit of which they are parts.

3. A multi-position rotary switch according to claim 2 characterized in that said supporting member and said end plates form a substantially closed housing which is adapted to exclude dust and dirt from the inner ends of said fixed contacts.

4. A multi-position rotary switch according to claim 2 characterized in that the'outer ends of said fixed contacts project from the outer cylindrical wall of said member for connection to an electrical circuit; and in that said supporting member and said end plates form a substantially closed housing which is adapted to exclude dust and dirt from the inner ends of said fixed contacts.

5. A multi-position rotary switch according to claim 2 further characterized by the provision of a'drum secured to said shaft and confined within the bore of said member by said end plates; and in that said movable contact element comprises a pin which is secured to said drum with its ends adapted to sweep between and incontact with the inner ends of opposing ones of said fixed contact elements.

6. A rotary switch comprising a plurality of substantially identical fixed contact supporting members, of generally cylindrical proportions, each said member having radially directed slots formed in substantially aligned relation in its opposite end faces; a plurality of fixed contact elements each disposed in a slot in one of said members with the inner ends of the elements at one end of each member lying in overlapping spaced relation to the inner ends of the elements at the other end of that member; said members being disposed in aligned relation, an insulating spacer of generally cylindrical proportions separating said members; a pair of end plates covering the ends of said members and being adapted to clamp said contact elements in fixed relation; means for securing said end plates, said members and said spacer together; a shaft extending through the bore of .said members and spacer; and being journaled in said end plates; and a plurality of movable contacts carried by said shaft, there beber; each movable contact being so disposedwith respect to one of said supporting members that it may be caused by a rotation of said shaft to bridge any opposing pair of .fixed contacts carried by that member.

7. A rotaryswitch according to claim 6 characterized in that said fixed contact supporting members, said spacer and said end plates form a substantially closed housing which is adapted to exclude dust and dirt from the inner ends of said fixed contacts.

8. A fixed contact assembly for a rotary switch comprising a contact supporting member of generally cylindrical proportions, said member having radially directed slots formed in aligned relation in its opposite end faces; a plurality of fixed contact elements, each disposed in one of said slots with its inner end projecting into the bore of said member and lying in overlapping spaced relation to the end of the contact in the opposing slot; said contacts being of a thickness which is approximately equal to the depth of the shallowest parts of said slots; end plates coving one such contact for each supporting mem- 8 ering the ends of said member; and means for securing said end plates and member together and for clamping said contacts in fixed position; each of said fixed contacts being substantially fiat between its ends and being adapted to be inserted in said slots after said member and end plates have been assembled.

9. A fixed contact assembly for a rotary switch comprising a contact supporting member of generally cylindrical proportions, said member having radially directed slots formed in aligned relation in its opposite end surfaces; a pair of insulating spacers of generally cylindrical proportions covering the end surfaces of said member; a pair of end plates; means for securing said member, spacers and end plates together in aligned relation; and a plurality of fixed contact elements, said elements being substantially fiat between their ends and of a thickness which approximately equals the minimum depth of said slots, said elements being adapted to be inserted in said slots after the assembly of said member, spacers, and said end plates.

10. A multi-position-switch comprising a cylindrical supporting member of insulating material; a plurality of fixed contacts disposed in arcuately spaced relation upon the opposite ends of said supporting member, said'contacts being arranged radially in opposing pairs with the inner ends of each pair projecting from the inner cylindrical wall of said member and lying in overlapped spaced-apart relation, and with their outer ends adapted for connection to an electrical circuit; a rotatable shaft extending centrally through said supporting member; journal means for said shaft; a movable contact carried by said shaft and so disposed that it may be caused by rotation of said shaft to bridge any one of said pairs of fixed contacts; and means for holding said contacts in assembled relation.

11. A fixed contact assembly for a rotary switch comprising a contact-supporting member of generally cylindrical proportions; an insulating spacer of generally cylindrical proportions covering an end surface of said member, the abutting end surfaces of said spacers and said supporting member defining a plurality of radially directed and arcuately spaced slots; 2. pair of end plates; means for securing said member, spacer, and end plates together in aligned relation; and a plurality of fixed contact elements, said elements being substantially fiat between their ends and of a thickness which approximately equals the minimum depth of said slots, said elements being adapted to be inserted in said slots after the assembly of said member spacers and said end plates.

' ALAN P. SULLIVAN. 

